GAME REPORT

Quincy Taylor's 15 points and 6 assists led Mons-Hainaut to an important road win

There was a feeling of agony for BCMU Pitesti after they were left ruing a real opportunity to secure a first win of the season in EuroChallenge Group B after being squeezed out 78-73 at home by Belfius Mons-Hainaut.

Having trailed for the majority of the game and particularly because of a poor 26-14 second quarter which led to them trailing by as many as 51-38 in the third period, the Romanian hosts worked hard to come back and re-establish a foothold in the game.

But, having taken the initiative away from the visiting team with a 9-1 run to level the scores at 67-67, they allowed their opponent to wrestle it back from them during the last three minutes of action, and it proved costly.

Especially since they contributed to their own downfall with a poor turnover in crunch time which handed the visitors an open lay-up in transition and agonisingly, despite Pankracije Barac dropping a triple to give them renewed hope at 73-71 behind with 18 seconds left, they couldn't get it done as time ran out.

Barac and Andonte Gennie combined for 41 points in defeat, whilst the winning team had Quincy Taylor to thank for 15 points and six assists, as well as some sharp outside shooting from Monwell Randle and Joshua Bostic.

COACH QUOTES

Mons-Hainaut head coach Yves Defraigne"We knew it will be a hard game , we saw how Pitesti played the first part of the game against Paris Levallois. The key of the game was our defence, wich was at a high level. The only thing that we missed where the rebounds, they where better in this chapter. But we where able to take the right decisions in the key moments of the game and that brought us the victory."

Mons player Monwell Randle"We came here to win, we came a long way, we knew very well what we had to do. We really had to play tough defence and that is what we are able to do, and that made us winners in the end."

Pitesti coach Tudor Costescu"Congratulations to our oponent, they deserved the victory, they where more focused in the key moments of the game. I also congratulate my players, it was a great effortand it is really hard to be competitive at this level with only seven players. The diference tonight was made by the mistakes we made in the crucial moments. We where able to rise at a high level, but unfortunately, we could’tfocus in the end of the game and that cost us the game."

Pitesti player Damien Kinloch"It was a tough game, we where in front, they fought back, than they where leading and we came back in the game, but in the end, we could’t focus enough to win. Belgium and France have strong leagues, this is a strong competition, and deffinitelly we have a problem ending games, in the last minutes. But we look better and better and finally, |I hope we will be able to get one victory in this group."

COACH QUOTES

Mons-Hainaut head coach Yves Defraigne"We knew it will be a hard game , we saw how Pitesti played the first part of the game against Paris Levallois. The key of the game was our defence, wich was at a high level. The only thing that we missed where the rebounds, they where better in this chapter. But we where able to take the right decisions in the key moments of the game and that brought us the victory."

Mons player Monwell Randle"We came here to win, we came a long way, we knew very well what we had to do. We really had to play tough defence and that is what we are able to do, and that made us winners in the end."

Pitesti coach Tudor Costescu"Congratulations to our oponent, they deserved the victory, they where more focused in the key moments of the game. I also congratulate my players, it was a great effortand it is really hard to be competitive at this level with only seven players. The diference tonight was made by the mistakes we made in the crucial moments. We where able to rise at a high level, but unfortunately, we could’tfocus in the end of the game and that cost us the game."

Pitesti player Damien Kinloch"It was a tough game, we where in front, they fought back, than they where leading and we came back in the game, but in the end, we could’t focus enough to win. Belgium and France have strong leagues, this is a strong competition, and deffinitelly we have a problem ending games, in the last minutes. But we look better and better and finally, |I hope we will be able to get one victory in this group."